9781422275788

two stem from a disagreement over who was the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad.) The main thrust of Wahhabism has been to purge all outside influences from Islamand protect it fromnewones, like pop culture. Wahhabismhas strict rules and expectations for women.These rules include separating women and men in public and private spaces, as well as the famous burqa requirement for women. A burqa is a body covering that shows only the eyes. In some areas where it is considered inappropriate for women to show their eyes, they must wear a full veil, too.

Time line of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia.

Other rules have included prohibitions onwomen voting,driving, working, teaching, getting an education, being in the same room as men who are not their relatives, and being in public without a male escort. Many of these bans are being lifted, albeit slowly, with incre- mental changes.For example,women are allowed to go to college,but they must be separated from men. They attend class in a separate room where they watch their professors on a video feed. Today 60 percent of Saudi university students are women. The recent lifting of the women’s driving ban got international attention, because Saudi Arabia was the only country in the world with this type of ban.Videos of women driving went viral after the banwas lifted, including a video of a very happy young lady rapping about being able to drive. Women are not the only ones affected by Saudi Arabia’s strict forms of governance. Men have dress requirements, too. Some Wahhabi clerics forbid watching or playing soccer, which is as popular in Saudi Arabia as it is around the world.

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